Can opener



3 Sheets-Sheet l CAN OPENER A. RY'cKMAN Filed Jan. 22, 1927 ou, 3o,1928` VY/M) Oct. 30, 1928,

A. RYCKMAN CAN OPENER Filed Jan.- '22, 1927 slsneets-sneet 2 och 30,'192s. Y 1,689,301 A. RYCKMAN CAN OPENER Filed Jan. v22. 1927 5sheets-sheet 5 l mm f num u i l llll Patented oct. 3o, 1928.

UNITED: STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

ANDREW nYcxMAN, or' CHICAGO, ILLnvoIs.

CAN OPENER.

Applicatieniled January 22, 1927. Serial No. 162,914.

"My invention relatesto improvements-in can openers'be1ng moreparticularly concerned with the provision of a can opener A'suitable foruse in hotels, factories, ctc. v yl1ere it is d esired toopen' a greatmany cansex-v peditiouslyand with a minimum'elort.

One ofthe objects of my invention is the provision of vsuoli a canvopener capable of Iholding and severing the tops of cans of val rionssizes with a minimum of physical effort.

Another object of my invention is the provision of such a. can openerhaving means to gauge the height o-f any can within the usual range ofsizes to'adjust the cuttmg element at proper height 'for said can,and-means to move the cutting Aelement into and out of operatingposition for opening a plurality of cans of `the same size withoutchanging vsaid adjustment.

AAnother object of my invention is theprovision of'such a can openerhaving' means for holding such a movable cutting element in operatingposit-ion and' means to hold the same in proper position for theinsertion of a can y Other objects and advantages of my invention willappear more fully from the following description and from theaccompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate.similar parts throughout-the several views..

. View of my canopener showing a canin po' 4 0 opener;

vIn thedrawin'gs Fig-1 a side elevational i Vlegs 11 and an'upWardIyextending rearward Jflange y12 for. a purposeful-ther to be' exfplained., The base- 10 ,is preferably constructed of cast iron and maybeef anyshape or conformation .other than that shown in' theplanfviewbut the 'shape shown provides' 'sutiicient flat upper surfaceto accomplishthe purposes of the yinvention without unduly increasingits' size and weight.

The base 10 is preferably yprovided with a slot 13 extending inward fromone side of the base and having substantially parallel edges 1 4 to forma guide. The base 10 is also provided With an aperture 15 ofsubstantially the 6o same length a's the slot 13 and having paralleledges 1'6. The aperture 15 is preferablyprovldeeb'with anenlargedportion 17 at its inner end for the purpose of permitting the-insertionof the' slider 18 further'to be described. 65

The baselO is provided with a downwardly extending lug 19 having a bore20which isV adapted to journal a shaft 21 which is pro-. vided withaleft-hand threaded portion 22 J and the right-hand threaded portion 23.The 79 shaft 21"1s preferably provided with. a I'educed end therebyproviding 'an annular shoulder 24 which serves as ja thrust bearingagainst the lug 19 and the shaft 21 is alsov provided with a crank 2 5havinga sleeve26, 75 which may be keyed or pinned to the shaft 2l-as at27 and which isv adapted to rotate the shaft21 byfmeans of the 'handle28. The' i shaft 21 is provided with a slider 18' having an aperture 30provided with complementary right-handed'thre'ads, and having a pair ofhorizontally projecting lugs 31 and 32 which areadapted to slide uponthe' lower surface 'of thebase 10 when the shaft 21 is journaled in thelug 19. The slider 18'is alsoprovidedwith an upwardly extending lug 33projecting through the aperture 15 in the base and extending above saidbase. The lug 33 lis .pro-

vided with a clampingshoe v34 comprising a cast metal member having asubstantially flat 99 lower surface, and a vpair of diagonally pro-v vjecting'anms35and 36 having-a side surfacev 39. The shoe34'may be'ixedly supported upon the lug 33 by a screw bolt 40.

The shaft 21 is'also provided at its right-Iv 9.5 'i

handthreaded portion 23 withya'second ider 41 having a similar`threaded'. aperture 42 with complementary right-hand. threads,-

With similar horizontal projecting shoulders to-slde on the lowersurface of thebase 10,

an upwardlyprojectin lug 44 extending through theslot 13 ansupporting-by, the

screw bolt 45 the clampingshoe46. The shoe 46 may be of similarconstruction tothe 105 shoe 34 having diagonally projecting arms 35 and-36 with a serrated side surface 39.

The method of assembly of the foregoing 'partis as follows:

The slider may be threaded-.upon @ell-10g bther end of the shaft 21.Both sliders should posed serrated surfaces 09, it will be obviouspreferably be somewhere near the inner limit of their ranve of movementupon the threaded portions 22 and 23 and the slider 18 should be solocated that when the upper end of the slider is ipassed bodily throughthe aperture 18 the end 0f the shaft 21 may clear the inner` side of thelug 19 for insertion into the journal 20. The crank 25 may then bepermanently attached to the shaft 21 and the shoes 34 and 46 ixed to thelugs 33 and 44. It'will thus be observed that the shaft is not onlysupported by the journal 20, but the lower surface of the shoe 46sliding on Ythe base 1() supports the other end of the shaft 21, whilethe projecting lugs 43 and 32upon the sliders cooperate with the opposedsurface of the shoes 34 and 46 toretain the sliders within the guidesformed by theedjacent edges of the base 10. As the shoes 34 and 46 areprovided with the diagonally disthat rotation of the crank 25 by meansof the handle 28 may cause'the shoes 34 and 46 to move toward each otherto clamp the base of a can Vof any of the usual sizes, or to move awayfrom each other to release the same.

In order to reenforce the base 10 it may be A provided with a pluralityof rearwardly eX- tending reenforcing flanges 47 and a pair oftransverse reenforcing Hanges 48 along the sides of the slot 13 andaperture 15. 'Y The base may also be provided Awith a plurality ofcountersunk holes 49 for the insertion of screws to fasten the same to atable or work bench. Y

The base 10 may support by means of the lug 11 and flange 12 an uprightstandard 50, which may consist of a substantially rectangular plate ofmetal, preferably steel .having a substantiallySrectangular slot 51 eutin each edge. The standard 'may be attached to thebase by means of aplurality `of screw bolts 52 and it may also be provided with aplurality 'f counter-sunk apertures 53 .Y for the purpose of Vfixing`the same to a ver.-

tical Wall 54 by screws 55 when so desired.

The standard 5 0 supports for sliding movement a plurality of sliders 56comprisingsub-f sta-ntially Hat members of angle iron having inwardlyturned flanges 57 which are adapt- 'ed to be lreceived in the grooves 51 to slide therein. The sliders 56 are each provided with a pair ofapertures 58 to receive the parallel bolts 59 and 60. The bolts 59 and60 are turned down at their ends as at 61 to provide annularV shoulders62 against which the sliders 56 may be clamped by thel nut 63 to holdther same in fixed relation without bind-A ing in the slots 5l. The bolt'60 supports for 'pivotal movement a lever 64' havinga down: ward andrearwardly projecting legl 6 5, a

horizontal leg 66,'a verticalbore 67, a goose neck 68, andfapairofrhorizvontal bones69 and`70 for a-purpose further to be described.

lThe leg 65 may be provided with a bore 71 adapted to receive the bolt60v and a projectgear 74 may be provided with the usual ani' nular boss77 on its lower side and the boss 77 supports by means of the screwbolts 78 and 7 9, a guide plate 8O which may be of substantially squaremetal plate having a rectangular groove 81 in its'upper surface and'-l apair of counter-boredapertures to receive the Screw bolts 78 'and 79with their heads.

The guide plate 80 is also provided with al .central aperture 82counter-bored within the groove`81 and which is adapted to receive thescrew bolt 83 with itsr countersunk head. screw bolt 83 is ground to aconical pointand in order to support the saine firmly inl the guideplate 8() and to cover the screw bolts The 78 and 79 a washer-85 may bepassed over the point 84 and a nut 86 screwed thereon'to firmly clampthe screw bolt 83l in the guide plate 80 andto'retain the said washer inplace.

The guideV plate 80 is adapted to receive a substantially rectangularbar 87 in the,

groove 81 for sliding movement and in order to fix the bar 87 in anyadjusted position a set screwv 88A may be threaded in the guide plate80. The bar or cutting arm 87 may be f provided at one end with anaperture 89 which is adapted to receive a bolt 90 to clamp lun theflange 91 of a cutter 92. Inorder to sup-` Y port the cutter' 92 fixedlyWithout pivot-al stirrup 93adapted to closely tit the arm 87 on bothsides and to receive the bolt 90 through its yoke. By makingthe cutterflange 91 of substantially the same'width as the arm 87 the cutter isadapted to be 'clamped between the stirrup 93 'and the bar 87 by thebolt 90 and isfirmly held against the pivotal movement by the upwardlyprojecting legs of 'the -U-shaped stirrup 93. The cutter 92 ispreferably of substantially triangular shape as shown in Fig. 3 ,with asharp upwardly slopl movement I provide a substantially U-shapcdingeutting edge on each side so that it is adapted to pierce the top ofthe can by its.

point and ,to cut the top of the can by being moved -in the direction ofeither cutting edge,

.the slope of the cutting edge aiding the cutter in making av slashingcut. The point 84and cutter 92 are preferably made of the vbest toolsteel so that Ithe piercing and cutting parts may withstand long andcontinuous service. It will thus be observed that by the means of theset screw 88 and the sliding bar 87 my cutter may be .adjusted to severthe top of any ordinary sized can or to cut out the to as closely to theside walls of the cam as is esirable..

In order to actuatethe Ibevel gear7 4 and the cutter 92 I'provide ahorizontal shaft 9 4 whichpmay be journaled in the bores 69 and and theshaft 94 supports 'a second bevel gear which is keyed or splinedto movewith said shaft. The shaft 94 may be actuated by a crank96 which has asleeve 97 kyed or pinned to the shaft 94 and a handle 9 The shaft 94 isretained within its journals by means of the bevel gear 95 which ispinned to thel shaft as at 99.

In orderto more easily move my cutting mechanism into and out of theoperating position, I provide a second lever 100 having a substantiallystraight lower portion 101 and an upwardly benthandle 102 which mayextend over the goose neck 68. The lever has a bore 103 which is adaptedto receive the bolt 59 by which thelever is pivotally supported and thehorizontal portion 101 is pivotallyconnected to the leg 66 of lthecutter supporting lever bv means of a link 104 and a plurality of bolts105 and 106.- The arrangement and shape of the legs 65 and 66 of thelower lever and the portion 101 of the upper lever should preferably besuch that when the cutter arm 87 is in horizontal position the centersof thel bolts 59, and 106 are in substantial alignment, the links 101and104 forming a toggle which substantially locks the levers in positionwhere upt ward force upon the cutter 92cannot change the position ofthis linkage.

In order to limit the downward movement of the lever 100 the link 104may be provided with substantially U-shaped ends, the yoke 107 providinga limiting stop against which the lever 100 may bear to limit itsdownward movement. It will thus be observed that when the linkage is infull line position shown in Fig. 4 the rtoggle cannot be broken bypushing upward upon the handle 98 or other parts connected with thelower lever 64 butby pulling upward upon the handle 102 of thelever 100the toggle will be broken, the pivot bolt 105 passing upward out ofalignment and the link 104 pulling the lever 64 together withitsassociated mechanism and cutter upward out of contact with the cam.The relative positions of the toggle levers are then shown in the dottedlines- )f 4. If desired the stop 107 may be so arranged that the-centerof the bolt. 105 will be slightly below the line of centers of thebolts. 59 and 106 thereby setting the toggle past dead center but it issuiiicient to have these centers in line so that the toggle is on deadcenter.

In order to support the sliders 56 in Xed relation upon' the standard 50the bolt 59 may also pivotally support a cam 108 having a surfaceincreasing in radius below the bolt` 59 as at 109 and having aprojecting'bolt 110 for manual actuation. It will thus be.'v

observed that if the bolt 110 is pushed downwardly the increasing radiusof the cam .108

ard 50 land cause the angese? to bind in 'their grooves as well as toclamp the part .ofthe upright 50 between the cam 108 and K the flange57. The weight of the bolt 110 y and the slider 56 in a Aplurality ofdifferent' positions. The plate 11.2 is provided with a forwardlyprojecting arm 111 which performs the function of a gauge.l

The operation of my can openeris as follows:

` The gauge 111 lshould `preferably be setA by means of the nuts 114 atsuch position that the cutter 92 will project below the gauge asufficient distance to penetrate well into the top of the can 114. Thisadjustment is a permanent one and need not be changed until the cutterhas been considerably worn down by resharpening or otherwise. The'cutting mechanism should first be moved to'its uppermost position bymeans of lifting the handle 102 to the linkage position shown in'Fig. 4.The shoes 34 and 46 may be moved to their outermost position byyrotating thecrank 25 in a counter-clockwise direction, the sliders 18and 41 progressing outward upon the left and right hand screws 22 and23. A can may then be placed upon the base 10 and slid backward to theposition shown in 'dotted lines at 116 in Fig. 2 underneath the gauge111. By releasing the bolt 110 the slider 56 bearing the entire cuttingmechanism may be moved upwardor downward and adjusted to such positionthat the gauge 111 rests upon' the upper edge 117 of the camand theslider 56 may be clampedl in such position.

The can may then be placed between the in a clockwise direction, thejaws will be acwill'cause the cam to bear against the standthe cam 109by means of 'jaws 34 and 46 and by rotating the crank 25 tuated by theleft and right-hand screws 22 and 23 toward eachother to such distanceas is necessary to clamp the base ofthe can between them,.the serratedsurfaces 39 serving to effectively prevent rotative movement o fthe can.It should be noted that the relative positions ofthe vjaws 46 should beIsuch that when any can is clamped between them the can is accuratelycentered beneath the point 84 in the axis of the shaft 73:l For thispurpose'it is suiiicient that the ysurfaces 39 be' By pulling forwardandv downward on the 5 lever. 102 the mechanism can be brdught into theposition shown in lFig. 1, the point '84 penetrating the center of thetop ot' the can and the'cutter A92 penetrating the top of the canadjacent theouter wall of the same. The

1f*- adjustment of the slider 56 and the cutting arm 87 having been oncemade, a plurality of cans of the same size may have their tops re! movedand by simply clamping the 'can upon the base, piercing its top as justdescribed, and

l5 rotating the crank 96 through a sufficientarc to causethe cuttertomake one revolution.' The sloping edge of the cutter 92-Will then followthe inside'of 'the Wall ofthe can 115 A'severing the top therefrom whilethe point 84 will hold the top in proper position until the' top iscompletely severed. The handle 102 may then be lifted the can'unclamped' and removed, the cover removed from the point 84 and a secondcan put in place 'for the same operation.v Y Referring to Fig. 5 I havehere" shown-a modified form of linkage in which the bolts 59 and 106 areconnected bg a coil spring 118 thereby tensioning these parts towardeach 3f other so that when the toggle formed" by the links 101 and 104*is in the position shown the spring positivelvpresses the link 104against .a

-means for adjusting said gauge.l L

the leg 65, thereby providinga :more positivemeans of locking the.sarne.The spring also' '3? performs an additionall function when the linkageis in the dotted line position shown'in-V Fig.'4 since it may made ofsufficient strength to support themechanisin' in the upper positionwithout physical effort; 'It 40 vwill thus be observed thatI'have'iiivented a can opener which is capable of efficiently andexpeditiouslyseveri'ng the tops of cans of many diiferen'tisizes andwhich includes means for gauging the height of any can and setting thecutting 'mechanism'accordingly s o that'the cutter may be easily movedinto and out ,of operating position without changing While I haveillustratedand described the specific .form of myjinvention, manychanges may be inadewithout departing,l ,from the Y spirit of theinvention. and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction ,setforthbut desire to avail myself of all' 5: changeswithin the scope of 'the appended claims. i Y

Having thus described. my invention what vI claim is new `and desire 'tosecure by'Lettcrs Patent of the United States is:

1; In a can opener, the combination of a supporting base having anupright standard, with means t6 retain a can in fixed posi-V tion onsaidbase, a. :frame adjustably mounted on Vsaid standard, a bearing' movablymountedon said frame, a measuring stop on 'and a downwardl extending'pointed cutter' `out the top ofa can movably supported on .framehaving-.a base, with an upright stand- VA'frame having a vadapted toslide in saidgmoves, 'n .lever pivotally mounted on' said guides,`s aidlever havf said frame, and meansfor cutting out the .top i Y of acalrmounted in sai bearing. j j' 2. Ina can opener, t e combination oa'supporting base having an upright standard, with a slider mounted forlsliding movement- 'on said standard, a lever pivotally supported With aslider mounted for sliding movement on said standard alever pivotallysupported on. said slider, said'lever having a bea-ring therein, asecond lever pivoted on said slider, .S Va toggle link connectmg saidlevers, a shaft mounted/1n sald bearing, means located axially 'ofsaidshaft to pierce the top of a can, Y i' I a'radial arm adjustablycarried by said shaft, 90

legcarried by sai arm. A 4. In acan o ner, the, combinatiohotasupporting base. aving an upright standard, a slideron -said standard,means for cutting a' said slider, a gaugeffor sett-ing said slider atoperative heightfor any size of can, and

5. In acan fopener, theI combination of a' lo. 'ardrhavin grooves in itsedges, a slider on said stan ard comprising Apairof guides adaptedtoslidein said grooves, a lever piv` otally mounted on saidguides, saidlever'having awtransverse bearing'ormed therein, a

shaft mounted in said bearing, a cutter arm .carried by said shaft, andmeans for rotatmg saidshaft.

5,6, In -a can o ner, the combinationoff a frame havinga; ase, with. ailuprigbtstand I!" ard havin grooves in itsedges, a slider on said stamrdVcomprising apair of guides adapted toslide in said grooves, a `leverpiv-' otally mounted on said guides,isai d lever havlng'a transversebearing formed therein, .a

shaft mounted inzsaid bearing, a cutter arm carried by said shafi,;meansfor rotating said. i 'shaftcolnprisino' a. bevel gear onsaidShaft, a

second shaft at right angles to said tirstshaft, f- A a bevel gearonsaid latter shaftand a.crank. 7;.In a can o ner, 'the combination of a,with an uprightstand ard having groovesin its'edg'es, ai slider on saidstandard comprising a pair of`-guides ing a transverse bearingformed-therein, a shaft mounted in said bearing, a cutter arm carried bysaid shaft; means for rotating said shaft@ seond-1evexj`piv9ted tosadslifcler,

les.;

Said second lever havinga handle and a oensaid standard comprising apair of'guides.-

ada ted to' slide in said grooves, a lever pivjotal y mounted on saidguides, said lever having a transverse bearing formed therein, a shaftmounted in said bearing, a cutter arm carried by said shaft, means forrotating said shaft, a second lever pivoted to said slider, said secondlever having' a' handle, and a sprin connected betweensaid levers toretain esame in either of its positions.

9, In a can o ener, the combination of a frame having a ase, with anuprightstand ard having grooves in'its edges, a slideron said standardcomprising a pair of plates having opposed flanges adapted to slide inSaid grooves, a lever having lts end spacingsaid plates, a boltpivot'ally ,Inounting said lever on said plates, a cutter revolublymounted on said lever and meanscarried by said lever for actuatingsaidcutter. v

10. In a can opener, the

ard having grooves in its edges, a slideron said standard comprising apair of plates having opposed flanges adapted to slide in said grooves,a lever having its end spacing said plates, a bolt pivotally mountingsaid lever on said plates, a-cutter revolubly mounted on said lever,means carried by said lever for actuating said cutter, a second leverhaving aA link' connected to said lirst mentioned leverA pivotingsaidsecond lever tovv and a bolt for 11. In a can opener, the combination ofa frame having a base, with anupright standard having grooves in itsedges, a slider on Y said standard comprising a pair4 of-plateshaving-'opposed flanges adapted to sl1de in said grooves, aleverhavingits end spacing said plates, a bolt pivotally mounting said lever onsaid plates, a cutter revolubly mounted on said lever, means carried bysaidlever for actuating said cutter, aseoond lever having a linkconnected to said first mentioned lever, a bolt for pivoting saidsecondi lever to said plates, and-acam mounted on said 'bolt to fixtheposition of said slider.

12. In a can opener, the combination of 'a' I frame having a base, withan upright stand'- ard ha grooves in its edges, a slider on saidcomprising a -having opposed anges position of said slider,` and a bevel'one' o pair of plates' adapted. ahde said lever, means carried by saidlever for `actuating said cutter, a second lever having a link connected`to saidV first mentioned lever,

a bolt for pivoting said second lever to saidplates, a cam mounted onsaid bolt to fix the gauge adjustably vcarried by said'bolts. L 13. In acan opener, the combination of a frame having-a base with an upri htstandard having grooves in its-edges, a s -iderlcomprising a pair ofplates having inwardly turned flanges in said grooves,'a lever adaptedto space said plates, a bolt pivoting said lever to said plates, saidlever'having av transverse bearing, a goose neck and a second bearing atright angles `to said transverse bearing, a shaftin each of saidbearings, a cutter carried by the shaft in said transverse bearing,

'frame having a. ase'with an upright standard having grooves inits-edges, a slider` vcomcombination o f a frame having a base, with anupright stand.-

prising a pair of plates having inwardly ed to space said plates,lai'bolt pivoting said lever to said plates, said lever having a trans.

-verse bearing, agoose. neck and a second bearat right angles tosaid'transverse bearing, l

in a s aft in each of Saidbearings, acutter carried by the shaftinl saidtransverse bearings,- ears on said shafts, a crank carried by saidshafts, a second lever pivotally mounted on'said slider, and a linkconnect-.- ing saidA levers. i

'15, In a can openerthe combination of a frame having a base withan'fu'pri ht stand-T ard having grooves in its edges, a s ider com--prisnig a pair of plates havin inwardlyturne ed to'space said plates, abolt pivoting said lever to said plates, said leverhaving a transversebearing, a' goose neck and a second 'turned langes in sa1d grooves, alever adaptanges in said grooves, a ever adaptbearing at rlght angles tosaid .transverse bearing, ashaft in eachof said bearingspa cuttercarried bythe sha-ft in said transverse bear' 10's' ,bevel gears on saidshafts, a1 crank carrie "by one of said' 'shafts,.a second lever saidlevers in either of two positions. Inwitness whereof, I hereuntosubscribe my name this 19th day ofdanuary, 1927.

'pivotally mounted .on said slider, va link c onnecting said levers,-and a spring for holding

